The concerned chairman of Portugal’s Medical Council, José Manuel Silva, has voiced his concern at the "growing emigration" of young medical specialists, including Doctors.
"There are more and more doctors emigrating. Doctors are graduating in Portugal and then migrating to central and northern Europe," said Silva as he chatted to press after a meeting with the Head of State.
According to the Medical Council chief, the country faces a "paradox" as the state invests thousands of euros in medical training providing ample doctors in most specialties and then, due to lack of opportunities and salary levels, sees them emigrate to other more developed European countries.
"The Head of State (Cavaco Silva) has a very special sensitivity to the situation in healthcare and realises that this situation has to be analyzed with great care and great caution," he added.
José Manuel Silva also argued that austerity should not be allowed to affect the responsiveness of the National Health Service, contrary to what is actually happening, especially in oncology and during the winter with more patients needing treatment for 'flu.
"Austerity is affecting the NHS response and its availability to patients. The cuts have led to difficulties in hospitals where the needs of patients can not be met," said Silva.
On combatting the recent embarrassing cases of fraud in the NHS, the president said he wanted the fight against fraud to extend also “to other sectors of society."
